Witchcraft Flashcards
1
Q
Why was witchcraft punished severely?
A
- Later C16th economic problems like falling wages. Death of livestock was blamed on witchcraft
- Fear of the poor and vagrants-rich accuse the poor
- After Henry VIII, witchcraft was not only a religious crime but against the state
2
Q
Laws against witchcraft:
A
- Henry VIII-1542-Witchcraft Act, punishable by death
- 1563-Elizabeth I, Act against conjurations, enchantments and witchcraft-tried in common court
- James I-1604-Witchcraft and Conjuration act- death penalty given to anyone summoning evil spirits.
3
Q
James I’s Demonologie:
A
- Published in 1597
- The book was about the nature of Hell and called the witches the ‘detestable slaves of the devil’
- Included instructions on how to carry out witch trials
- New edition in 1603 describing how witches had tried to drown him and his wife
- His ideas had influence on others
4
Q
Social Upheaval:
A
- English Civil War
- Began in 1642-49
- Most families were divided and had to take sides
- Economic and political chaos of the war created a in which people were more attracted to superstitious ideas
5
Q
Who was Matthew Hopkins?
A
1645, former Essex lawyer and self proclaimed Witchfinder General
6
Q
How did Hopkins get women to confess to being witches?
A
- Starvation
- Sleep deprivation
- Mole
4.Having a familiar - Sink or swim. Sink innocent used by communities NOT Hopkins
7
Q
Punishments for witchcraft:
A
- 1000 people executed between 1542-1736- mainly hanging
- Hopkins and assistant John Stearne led to 300 investigated and 112 executed by hanging
8
Q
Reasons for the decline of witchcraft:
A
- Hopkins died of TB in 1647, calm the hysteria he stirred up
- The enlightenment period in the second 1/2 of the C17th. Royal Society in 1660 brought together thinkers
- Move towards reason and rationality
